By The Weekly Vision Team
Sources allege that Governor Sakaja wrote a letter to the EACC Chief Executive Officer, Twalib Mbarak, dated January 3, 2024, asking the Commission to open investigations into alleged corruption in the county’s employment process. It is further alleged that there is bad blood between Sakaja and Kasoa regarding the distribution of employment opportunities. On his part, Mr. Kasoa has reportedly complained to close friends about how Governor Sakaja has been insisting on the employment of individuals only seconded by his office
Governor Johnson Sakaja is alleged to have clashed with County Public Service Board Chairman Thomas Kasoa over the process used to hire county staff. According to sources, Mr Kasoa and a section of his board members blame Governor Sakaja for allegedly forwarding unqualified names to the board for consideration against the County Public Service Board rules.
The Weekly Vision has, however, learned that some of the names the governor’s office has forwarded for employment to the board are of individuals allied to powerful politicians in the national government. The county public service board has been caught in the mix before where members faced accusations of failing the integrity tests in staff recruitment, where allegations of bribery were made against certain board members.
Sources allege that Governor Sakaja wrote a letter to the EACC Chief Executive Officer, Twalib Mbarak, dated January 3, 2024, asking the Commission to open investigations into alleged corruption in the county’s employment process. It is further alleged that there is bad blood between Sakaja and Kasoa regarding the distribution of employment opportunities. On his part, Mr. Kasoa has reportedly complained to close friends about how Governor Sakaja has been insisting on the employment of individuals only seconded by his office.
Mr Kasoa is also said to have bitterly complained about how the executive has stage-managed the redeployment of county officers as well as the commitment of officers to duties that they were not initially employed to handle. The board has previously complained of section heads being assigned duties outside of their positions in a suspected scheme to syphon public resources. The board last year, in a letter dated November 7, 2023, addressed to County Secretary Patrick Analo, demanded that any officer currently performing duties outside their designated position must revert to their substantive position immediately.
Mr. Kasoa has on previous occasions complained about how some county officers are assigned duties outside of their substantive positions by the executive. Sources also revealed to us how some senior government officials, among them Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Speaker Moses Wetangula, are constantly pushing for major changes in the employment process at City Hall that will effectively lead to the total absorption of their cronies into the county government.
Elsewhere, the County Assembly’s ad hoc committee that was established in September 2023 to look into the Revenue Collection System in Nairobi has failed to deliver a report to the County Assembly following claims that the county executive is not cooperative.
Investigations reveal that the Committee overseeing revenue affairs in Nairobi County has issued a third summons to both the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Nairobi County Executive. This comes in response to their repeated non-appearance before the committee, sparking suspicions of a possible collaboration to evade accountability.
Sources say KRA officials and members of the Nairobi County Executive were expected to provide insights into the intricate web of revenue collection in Nairobi. The continued absence of these key stakeholders has not only frustrated committee members but has also raised questions about the nature of their relationship, as both entities seem to be failing to appear in unison.
The ad hoc committee chairman, Peter Imwatok, who is also the majority leader of the Nairobi County Assembly, claimed, “It’s like there is a collaboration between KRA and the executive since when they fail to appear, the executive also fails. It’s high time they stop ignoring and taking this committee for granted.”
In a stern warning, the committee highlighted that the Nairobi executive’s failure to comply with the summons might lead to impeachment proceedings for incompetence. This signals the committee’s commitment to enforcing transparency and accountability in revenue management and emphasises the gravity of the situation.
Compounding the issue are reports of substantial revenue losses under the current collection method employed by the county. The ad hoc committee views this as a pressing matter that demands urgent attention and resolution to safeguard the financial interests of the county.
The ad hoc committee is said to have summoned County Executive Committee members for finance Charles Kerich, Finance and Economic Palling Chief Officer Asha Abdi, Markets Director Mohammed Bashir, and procurement head Richard Mogoko.
